NNMhunter

Hi all.
I'm a "new" hunter since going on VA and moving to Taos, NM.
I bagged my first cow elk in the coveted Valle Vidal area on my first hunt as an adult. Okay so I bagged a few dog-sized Florida deer and some varments as a kid, but..... Lucky? I reckon. BUT...
My feet got insanely cold after I put her down and I had to wait for my partner to climb up to where I was so we could get 'er down. I put 'em under her to keep 'em warm. I had Wally World Thinsulated hiking boots and one pair of wool sox. NOT GOOD.
SO::: this is for fellow hunters in the NNM and Southern CO area:
Boots? Dry feet is the #1, but what about insulation? I'm looking into getting some all leather 800G or some "new, used" Buckmasters with inserts and "duck" bottoms except for an aggressive tread for climbing the rocky terrain. What is the preferred boot for our area?
Thanks in advance!

flags

I wear a pair of boots from the Russell Moccasin Company called the sheep hunter style. They are made to the specifications of your feet. Mine have 400 grams of thinsulate and the air bob sole. Been wearing them about 10 years. When they wear out I'll replace them with the same model. Here is their website.

http://www.russellmoccasin.com/mountain-hunting-boots/

Oldtimr

I would strongly recommend against buying used boots for hunting. If your feet are not comfortable, you will not be comfortable and an uncomfortable hunters is not paying attention to what is happening around him and he probably will not stay in the field as long as he would if he wasn't thinking about cold or uncomfortable feet. After you wear a pair of boots for a while they will conform to your feet, you do not want boots that have conformed to someone elses feet. It is your money so you are free to buy what you want, but hunting boots is one place I would not penny pinch.

CalHunter

I agree with oldtimer. Used boots are definitely not recommended.

I'm also curious as to your hunting style. Are you sitting still like in a stand or moving a lot? That can make a difference as to which boot might be better for you.

NNMhunter

Thanks for the input so far, guys. There's a saying: "Buy good once, buy cheap often."
@flags: Wow! That's more than half my check!
I guess I just need to know at this point how much, if any, "insulation" I'd need for hunting late season in Northern NM/ Southern CO. September isn't bad but when the snow hits, brrrrr. Which brings me 'round to this: how much larger than my "normal" shoe size should I go? Realizing that is, that warm wool sox are a must and wiggle room for circulation is half of keeping warm. Thanks!

Short answer: no blinds or stands.
My "style" is developing, to say the least. I'd been a tag-along for three seasons before I finally made the draw. I read hunting mags in the head and I go with an experienced hunter -my nephew, LOL!
He's a combination "truck" and "hiking" hunter, meaning we ride around looking for "the signs" then we'll get out and walk a ways. Sometimes we'll sit and call, depending on the tag.
My mid-November cow hunt was over almost as soon as it started, though. We saw the herd at day break, I bailed from the truck and after getting my footing on the frozen ground, got a leg shot at +-350 yds. *Dang it* That's when I ran my old butt up that steep hill to deliver the kill shot. Steep hill with a foot of snow and rocks underneath. Then standing in said snow waiting for my partner. Fun. Can you say expensive hunting boots?

Big Uncle

Nobody can tell you what boot will be the most comfortable for you. Luckily there are plenty of stores that carry different brands for you to try on with the socks that you intend to use. Slightly too large boots are vastly better than slightly too small boots.

As for boot construction, I like either Vibram deep lug soles or airbob soles that are stiched to the upper for mountain hunting. The airbob soles do not hold as much mud and still have very good traction, the deep lug soles fill up with mud but have great traction on rocks and loose scree slopes. Some guys like the molded soles instead of the stiched version, but most fellows that hunt steep rocky ground want a boot that supports the ankle well and has good traction (not "duck" soles). I like the "lace to toe" boots best for the mountains but other guys like boots better that only lace to the middle of the foot.

The best advice that I have ever been given for cold feet is to put on a warm hat. This is not a joke. You lose so much heat from your head that your body compensates by robbing it from other parts of your body, starting with the extremities.

Muley Hunter

I use the Meindl Perfekt model boots. The pair I have now is 10 years old. Resoled them once, and the construction is still perfect. They never leaked even standing in a creek for hours. I can walk all day in snow, and my feet never get cold, but my feet don't get cold.

They're made in Germany, and sold through Cabelas. Have a look, and read the reviews.


btw..These aren't just my hunting boots. I wear them everyday. So, they have some serious miles on them. I scout over 200 days a year.

MudderChuck

Same thing I wear (for the last 35-40 years), though I have changed over to the Island model because they are lighter (I'm getting way old). The Island model souls last around half as long as the Perfect model souls do.

Muley Hunter

Never heard of that model, and had to look it up. I found out it's only sold in Canada. Is that right?

You have to be careful about which Meindl model you get. Some of them are being made in Asia, and don't hold together like the German made models.

MudderChuck

They sell the island model here in Germany also,but they call them the Iceland model still spelled Island. They are lighter and a bit more flexible, Gortex lined. But the souls don't really hold up (some newer type of Vibram), the Perfect model with the old style Vibram soles last twice as long. The tops last forever on both models. I'm going back to Perfekt after these wear out (if I live that long )

Another thing about Meindl is they are arrogant. I've had a couple of warranty issues (bent/broken lace hooks) and if they bothered to answer my letter, they always said it was my fault. I actually sent the president of the company a pair of my old boots (with bent/broken lace hooks) with no return address. With a note that said. I can get no help from your warranty department, maybe you can get them to fix these and then you can wear them. I imagine Cabalas eats the warranty issues and Mendl never hears about it. Or maybe they are just more receptive to claims from major distributors. My local distributor told me to make all claims directly to Meindl, Meindl in effect told me tough luck. For the price of these boots you'd think they would be a bit more customer friendly. It isn't really Meindls quality that causes the issues, I'm hard on my boots, but I do think they could be a bit more flexible with the warranty.